Our Take On: "Cadillac Man"

Falling after Mork & Mindy, Good Morning Vietnam, and just after Dead Poets Society, our feature Cadillac Man showcased both Robin Williams comedic and dramatic skills.  We saw the movie as an oddball mix of a basic Hollywood comedy and moments of true drama and personal growth. It ironically began with showing how slick and superficial the car salesmen can be, William’s character in particular.

As the movie advanced we saw his character Joey O’Brien has use his salesman skills to tap-dancing verbally past Larry the forlorn, angry husband (played by Tim Robbins) by lying to him that he was sleeping with Larry’s wife (which he was not – too busy with two other women and his ex-wife and daughter). This lie serves to show Joey in a positive light since we all saw it as a brave and risky thing to have done. It has the effect of getting Larry’s focus on Joey, and as the film progresses a strange but very human bond grows between the two men. I It is a tribute to both Williams and Robbins that they build this connection in a very real way that shows in the emotions they project as much as the actions they perform. n the end, Joey has to face his life with an honesty that helps him to resolve & face his personal problems.

Overall, this movie was a pleasant surprise for the group. None of us had seen it before, and we felt it was a particularly good bridge between his early straight comedy roles, and his more dramatic roles. It should be a satisfying transition into our other two Robin Williams films to come: Good Will Hunting next month, and August Rush on May 4th. (We will also be seeing The Blues Brothers in May, on May 18^th.

We also began the new documentary on Robin Williams from PBS: Robin Williams Remembered. Since it so perfectly blends with our Robin Williams theme, we are breaking up the documentary between the three Robin Williams films. Members enjoyed seeing the opening part which covers Williams life from his time at Julliard and comic clubs, to his hit series, Mork & Mindy. This part included interviews with Pam Dauber (Mindy) and Henry Winkler (Mork debuted on Happy Days where Winkler was The Fonz). There were even interview pieces with and about Jonathan Winters (who Williams claimed as a mentor) and Robin himself.

We all thought seeing this piece of the documentary complimented seeing a film starring Robin Williams, so we will pick up where we left off when we see Good Will Hunting on March 30^th @ 6:00 p.m. in Meeting Rm. B.